Wow. Between this and the Ray Allen trade, it would transform the Celtics from the pathetic laughingstocks they were last year (granted, a lot of that was due to injuries) into a team that has a legitimate chance to win the NBA championship.

It would hurt to lose Al Jefferson, but KG and Allen aren't bad to make you forget the C's couldn't get Greg Oden.

No chance Garnett goes to Boston. For Boston to take the last year of his contract (plus his trade kicker) and give up two of their young guys for essentially a one-year rental (because there is ZERO chance Garnett will re-sign when his contract's up next year) would be the absolute worst GM move of the year. And that says a lot considering this is an offseason that featured Orlando signing Rashard Lewis to the MAX deal.

Wake me when a FEASIBLE Garnett deal comes through.

The Wisdom of Homsar:AaAaAaAaAaAaA! Caramel corn for president, please!

Originally posted by It's FalseNo chance Garnett goes to Boston. For Boston to take the last year of his contract (plus his trade kicker) and give up two of their young guys for essentially a one-year rental (because there is ZERO chance Garnett will re-sign when his contract's up next year) would be the absolute worst GM move of the year.

Not if it works. If the Celtics can put together a very good record this year, and win a playoff series or two, why wouldn't Garnett re-sign with the team? It's not like there are a whole lot of teams around with the salary cap room to sign KG to the kind of money he thinks he should make anyway, and after three straight years of missing the playoffs with the Timberwolves, I would think Garnett would find it refreshing to have a chance to win an NBA championship.

Especially considering he'd be in a city that has been absolutely craving another title for the Celtics for 21 years.

Originally posted by It's FalseNo chance Garnett goes to Boston. For Boston to take the last year of his contract (plus his trade kicker) and give up two of their young guys for essentially a one-year rental (because there is ZERO chance Garnett will re-sign when his contract's up next year) would be the absolute worst GM move of the year. And that says a lot considering this is an offseason that featured Orlando signing Rashard Lewis to the MAX deal.

Wake me when a FEASIBLE Garnett deal comes through.

Last I heard, KG was agreeing to waive the no-trade clause and they were working on a contract extension. The only thing that might hold it up is his trade kicker.

A trade kicker is a bump in salary. It basically means if he makes $10 Million this year and gets traded, his salary bumps up to $15 million (my numbers not actual). If the Celtics can work on an extension to his contract, then most likely, KG will drop the trade kicker.

I have no idea why he WOULDN'T want to come to Boston. In the West, Minny is a 8 seed at best. In the East, Boston has a legitimate shot at the top seed and a much easier road to the Finals. Plus, if he wins this year and the Celtics go deep into the playoffs, he will OWN Boston for however long he is there.

KG, Allen and Pierce? As long as they are healthy and Ainge can keep some good role players, they should be contenders for the next 3-4 years.

Fry crack corn and I don't careLeela crack corn I still don't careBender crack corn and he is greatTake that you stupid corn!

I, along with Bill Simmons, have to endorse Kevin McHale as General Manager of the Year for the Boston Celtics. What?? He doesn't work for the Celtics??

This makes the Celtics instant contenders in the East and since we've had nothing to cheer for in the last 15 years, I will take it.

Since they are including Gomes, Jefferson and Green, there are not many bodies left in Celtic Town, though. The hope is that Tony Allen comes back from knee surgery and Rajon Rondo is the real deal (he might be).

Originally posted by Mark MurphyA league source just confirmed that the Celtics and Timberwolves have finalized a deal that will bring Kevin Garnett to Boston in exchange for Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff and two first round draft picks.

Garnett is expected to arrive in Boston this afternoon for a physical.Garnett has agreed to a three-year extension with the Celtics beyond the two remaining on his contract, guaranteeing that he will be a Celtic for the next five years.

One reason for prolonged negotiations was the Celtics’ attempt to lessen the luxury tax hit this team will take next year, with Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen scheduled to earn a combined $54.4 million - the highest of any three-player combo in the NBA.

This will involve finding a way to lessen the impact of a 15 percent trade kicker in Garnett’s contract.

I would be happier with leaving Gomes and one of the picks out of the deal, but overall I'm ecstatic that people are actually going to be interested in the Celtics again ... Of course, this now means that the team HAS to raise banner number seventeen within the next five years.

Making it to the Eastern Conference Finals isn't enough anymore. Making it to the NBA Finals isn't enough anymore. Anything else besides a championship in the next five years means this trade is a failure.

Actually, lemmee rephrase that ... Making it to the NBA Finals will be enough (for me personally) if Gerald and Big Al turn out to be good players and not GREAT players. I'm sure many Boston fans are/were gun-shy about the move after seeing other young players jettisoned from the team to find success elsewhere (Chauncey Billups, Joe Johnson, etc). So, if Green and Jefferson only make it to the level of marginal All-Star (at best) and not superstar, then it means we wouldn't have been winning the championship with them on the team anyway.

I still think completely tossing out the youth movement for a couple of second-round exits will come back to haunt the C's in a few years. But for right now, enjoy the ride. The C's will be back in the playoffs next year. Even if Doc Rivers is still the coach.

Now, excuse this Laker fan while he waits for Mitch to DO NOTHING! Look for the Kobe trade demand to pick up more steam in the next few weeks.

The Wisdom of Homsar:AaAaAaAaAaAaA! Caramel corn for president, please!

Originally posted by It's FalseI still think completely tossing out the youth movement for a couple of second-round exits will come back to haunt the C's in a few years. But for right now, enjoy the ride. The C's will be back in the playoffs next year. Even if Doc Rivers is still the coach.

Now, excuse this Laker fan while he waits for Mitch to DO NOTHING! Look for the Kobe trade demand to pick up more steam in the next few weeks.

They were sure to make the 2nd round if they stood pat with Pierce/Allen. This trade makes them a top-2 to top-3 team in the east. The only young player the C's gave up of note was Jefferson. He will probably be averaging double-doubles after KG retires. Still, at best I see him being the next Boozer or Randolph, not the next Brand.

I like Gomes too, but he's at best a 5-6th man on a good team. Green is still inconsistent with his game and looks totaly lost on D at times. Telfair and Ratliff are cap filler. One of the 1st rounders is the one Minny sent to Boston in the Wally/Ricky Davis trade, and the other doesn't come into play until 2009 (which most likely will be in the 20's).

They still have some good young players in Rondo, Perkins, Tony Allen (provided he stays out of off-court trouble and decides against doing another highlight-dunk 5 seconds after the play is over), Powe, and Glen Davis. You also have to figure other vets might want to come play here now that KG AND Ray Allen are on the team along with Pierce.

Now, excuse this Knick fan while he waits for Isiah to make his panic, desperation trade to counter this one.

(edited by Kawshen on 31.7.07 1743)

He's going after Kobe. The Knicks are pretty much the onyl team outside of Chicago that can make a deal for Kobe work. It have no idea on the matching salaries, but a package of Renaldo Balkman, David Lee, Eddie Curry and Stephon Marbury plus draft picks for Kobe and Ronnie Turiak could happen. The Lakers are going nowhere in the West and right now would be the time to make a deal and get rid of Kobe.

Isiah has to both love and hate the KG deal. Hate it because they are now the third best team in their division (behibd the Celitcs and Nets) and love it because Kobe is more available in a trade now than ever.

Fry crack corn and I don't careLeela crack corn I still don't careBender crack corn and he is greatTake that you stupid corn!

Originally posted by WpobIsiah has to both love and hate the KG deal. Hate it because they are now the third best team in their division (behibd the Celitcs and Nets) and love it because Kobe is more available in a trade now than ever.

Third Best? Toronto, the defending Atlantic Division Champion, is better and the 76ers probably are better as well. Zeke can go back to his wonderful job of holding up the rest of the division, unless he gets fired if the sexual harrassment case turns up a guilty verdict before the season begins.Pieman: The Celtics did have a 2-1 series lead with Pierce going to the line with a chance to win Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals back in '01-'02. Besides that, there has been nothing since we got screwed in the Cleveland series in '92, but there was that brief blip.Are the Celtics better? Yes. Can they get out of the East? Anyone with a pulse can get out of the East if they are healthy and the bracket breaks correctly. Can they win #17? If Duncan breaks his foot in Game 1 of the Finals they would have a puncher's chance. Still, from a team that's only entertainment value was to see how they could tank a game to being able to seriously consider them a Conference contender in a few months is incredible. Thank you again to Sir Kevin the Fourth for making his last memory with the Celtics no longer be that perfect half-court alley-oop pass to Dee Brown that was goaltended with except for the ref having Charlotte that night to this trade. Thank you Kevin. Now, a Celtic team with veteran components and no bench? Paging K.C. Jones. Paging Mr. K.C. Jones. Would have more faith in him than the coach who has never been out of Round 1. I know where the Beat L.A. Towel is, where the hell is that Celtics Pride (no, not the horrid movie) merchandise.

Third Best? Toronto, the defending Atlantic Division Champion, is better and the 76ers probably are better as well. Zeke can go back to his wonderful job of holding up the rest of the division, unless he gets fired if the sexual harrassment case turns up a guilty verdict before the season begins.

Hey, I hate Isiah as much as anyone and as a Knick fan I hope to GOD he gets fired for ANYTHING he has done, but he has assembled a solid team and one I think COULD have won the Atlantic if the KG trade did not go through. Kidd and Vincanity will not (most likely) stay healthy all year. If either of them or Jefferson goes down for an extended period, they can be beat. Of course, the same goes for the Celtics - if either of their big three go down for a good part of the season, they will not win the East.

I did not forget about Toronto but I do think they will not be much better than what they were last year. They have not, to my knowledge, made any significant improvements to their team. If they have and I missed it, my bad.

The Knicks have a very deep team at every position and have a ton of young tradable guys to make a big deal:

Like since when did Boston become the hot NBA destination that Los Angeles used to be?? (Pieman & JJD: Not allowed to answer that)

I will ignore Frosty like I usually do

Of course Boston is the new destination for basketball stars! Did you see KG with Big Papi last night? He's loving Boston already! Everybody wants to hang out with Papi and Manny! I am all a-twitter about watching the Celts this season!!

And thus the final link to the championship Lakers teams of the early 2000's is gone. I miss those days. Devean was criminally underused in the last season, especially during the playoffs, since he was (as aforementioned)